Ginger has got to be one of the most delicious and healthiest spices on the planet. However, ginger has been used for its medicinal properties for centuries among many cultures.

Ginger has a long history of use for relieving digestive problems such as nausea, loss of appetite, motion sickness and pain. Ginger is part of the Zingiberaceae family, alongside cardamom and turmeric, and is commonly produced in India, Jamaica, Fiji, Indonesia and Australia.

Let explore some of the other health benefits that this delicious spice comes with.

Keeping Stroke and Heart Disease at bay: Ginger combined with other super foods like Garlic and onions, have powerful anti-blood-clotting ability, especially when eaten regularly and are very effective in keeping strokes and heart disease away.

Treating many forms of nausea, especially morning sickness: Ginger appears to be highly effective against nausea. It has a long history of use as a sea sickness remedy, and there is some evidence that it may be as effective as prescription medication and may also relieve nausea and vomiting after surgery, and in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. It has proved very effective in relieving morning sickness in expectant mothers.

Lowering blood sugars: This area of research is relatively new, but ginger may have powerful anti-diabetic properties. In a recent 2015 study of 41 participants with type 2 diabetes, 2 grams of ginger powder per day lowered fasting blood sugar by 12% (11). It also dramatically improved HbA1c (a marker for long-term blood sugar levels), leading to a 10% reduction over a period of 12 weeks. There was also a 28% reduction in the ApoB/ApoA-I ratio, and a 23% reduction in markers for oxidized lipoproteins. These are both major risk factors for heart disease.

Ginger may help reduce muscle pain and soreness: Ginger has been shown to be effective against exercise-induced muscle pain. Ginger does not have an immediate impact, but may be effective at reducing the day-to-day progression of muscle pain. These effects are believed to be mediated by the anti-inflammatory properties.

Ginger may lower cholesterol levels: Gingerol, the bioactive substance in fresh ginger, can help lower the risk of infections. In fact, ginger extract can inhibit the growth of many different types of bacteria

Ginger may help keep Cancer at bay: Cancer is a life-threatening disease that is characterized by uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. Ginger extract has been studied as an alternative treatment for several forms of cancer.

Relief in toothache: Using ginger as a home remedy for toothaches is something that has been passed down from generation to generation. Many people even experience immediate relief from the tooth pain. Try rubbing raw ginger into the gums or boil the ginger root, letting it cool and using it as a mouth rinse.

Stuffy nose/ congestion: Ginger helps in breaking up phlegm and gives a boost to the immune system.

Digestive Issues: The phenolic compounds in ginger are known to help relieve gastrointestinal irritation, stimulate saliva and bile production and suppress gastric contractions and movement of food and fluids through the gastrointestinal tract.